<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Despite its strict gun control laws, the state of California had more “mass slayings” this year than any other state. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A “mass slaying” is a violent crime in which four or more people are killed excluding the perpetrator(s). Most mass slayings never make the news because they do not take place in public places.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This year, 211 people were killed in 41 mass slayings &#8211; more than any year since the 1970’s. Perpetrators used guns in most of the killings; 8 were conducted using knives and axes.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“The majority of the killings involved people who knew each other &#8211; family disputes, drug or gang violence or people with beefs that directed their anger at co-workers or relatives,” notes <em>The Associated Press. </em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><span class="s1">The state of California witnessed eight of the mass slayings, more than any other state.</span></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">This statistic gives ammunition (pun intended) to <i>Second Amendment </i>advocates who argue that gun control laws do not prevent gun violence. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The Golden State has gun registration requirements, ammunition controls, universal background checks, confiscation laws, a 10-day waiting period for firearm purchases, a ban on assault weapons, and limits on how many guns a person can buy each month.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The state forbids concealed carry on campuses, even in the case of arming teachers for possible school shootings, and requires buyers to acquire safety certificates before purchasing a gun. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Despite all of these rules, criminals in California were able to perpetrate eight mass slayings this year.</span></p>
<p>When asked how to stop the violence, San Francisco resident Marc Coleman said, &#8220;<span class="s1">Protect the homeland. Take care of ourselves where we’re suffering from, mentally and spiritually, and we’ll stop shooting each other.&#8221;</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Starting January 1st, California residents will need to be 21 or older to purchase a semi-automatic rifle. Gun licensing and fees will go up and individuals banned from owning guns in any state will be blocked from purchasing them in California. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">California is also gearing up to expand its gun-violence restraining order policy, a program that enables police to seize weapons from any person who has threatened violence,</span><span class="s1"> to workplaces and schools. Starting next month, anyone slapped with </span><span class="s1">a gun-violence restraining order will be banned from purchasing firearms for five years.</span></p>
<p>Starting in 2021, <span class="s1">California residents will not be allowed to purchase more than one semi-automatic rifle per month. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><strong>Author’s Note:</strong> Whether you use a gun or any other method, it always has and always will be possible to kill someone if you are willing to die for it.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The mass slayings and school shootings in the US are not the result of lax gun control laws, but rather a product of individual problems and societal function. </span></p>